BSCL 2021 Season Review Pt. 1
What a crazy season that New Jersey experienced in the realm of high school girls basketball. The 2021 season was unprecedented and unique, but one that will never be forgotten. There was no better example of this than in the…
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Continue ReadingWhat a crazy season that New Jersey experienced in the realm of high school girls basketball. The 2021 season was unprecedented and unique, but one that will never be forgotten.
There was no better example of this than in the Burlington County Scholastic League, which featured some of the best teams in the region.
Prep Girls Hoops will be reviewing the season at full everywhere in the Garden State, including in the BSCL, where we’re going to have a multi-part season review, starting here with the best players in the Freedom and Independence Divisions.
Elizabeth Shover – F, Palmyra
Shover has been one of the premier shot-blockers in the state since her freshman year, recording a career-high 5.2 blocks per game in her sophomore season. Her overall dominance continued into this season, where she averaged 9.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 3.6 BPG, and a career-high 1.6 SPG. She also nearly averaged an assist a game, but her presence was felt most on the interior as she posted five double-doubles this season, including four straight to end the season. Shover turned things up those last four games, ending it with eight blocks in a 45-23 win over Maple Shade. She ended her senior season and high school career in perfect style.
Riley Starke – C, Riverside
Starke led Riverside in her senior season and absolutely balled out for the Rams, averaging 8.9 PPG, 9.9 RPG, 2.7 BPG and 1.4 SPG in 13 games. She recorded five double-doubles for Riverside and had seven double-digit rebound games, with a season-high 19 against Maple Shade. Unfortunately for the Rams, it finished the 2021 season with a 5-8 record, though the silver lining is that it ended the season on a two-game winning streak. Starke had an impressive 13-block performance against Pemberton and just showed a level of dominance throughout 2021.
Payton Arnold – G, New Egypt
Arnold was as advertised and more in her sophomore season with New Egypt as she averaged 14.2 PPG and 1.5 SPG in 2021, leading the Warriors in scoring and three-point shooting. She averaged 3.0 made threes a game during the season, just absolutely electric from beyond the arc. It was an impressive aerial display for the sophomore, who is just heating up for New Egypt in her high school career. The Warriors have a strong guard duo in her and Michaela Weber that will blitz the BSCL next season, so watch out.
Iris Azcona – G, Florence
Azcona nearly averaged 20.0 PPG in her junior season for Florence, averaging 19.2 PPG, 7.9 RPG, 1.5 APG and 2.3 SPG, along with 1.3 made threes a game. She was everywhere and anywhere on the court, one of the best pure scorers in the conference, if not the best now going into her senior season. Not only that, but Azona plays a very tight and tough style of defense, allowing her to create so many steal opportunities, and is very agile and versatile on both ends of the court. Double-double averages are well within her grasp going into next season, including a 20-10 campaign for sure.
Brianna Newmuis – F, Maple Shade
The junior was Maple Shade’s lone double-digit scorer on the season, averaging 13.3 PPG in 2021 with 1.2 made threes a game. Newmuis showed a lot of growth this season, developing a deadly outside shot that was very effective over the course of the season. Now with that as an added level to her game, Newmuis can really work on continuing to expand her range and become an unstoppable force as a senior. Her ceiling is only rising, so expect big things from her during the 2021-22 season.